On their 1986 debut, LOVE & HOPE & SEX & DREAMS, the BoDeans established themselves as one of the Midwest's preeminent rock bands. Fronted by singer/guitarists Sammy Llanas and Kurt Neumann, the Wisconsin-based ensemble garnered accolades for its earnest, no-frills approach, as best exemplified by the lively "Still the Night" and the carefree "Angels." The album also benefits from top-notch production by renowned knob-twiddler T-Bone Burnett, who knows how to gild the ensemble's rootsy tendencies with just enough pop gloss. For those exploring the BoDeans' discography, LOVE & HOPE & SEX & DREAMS is the natural place to begin.